Fallen Leaves and HVAC Systems

September 12, 2017
By
Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical

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The outdoor portion of your
HVAC system contains two components that are essential for cooling your home; the
condenser and compressor. Because the unit sits outside, it easy for miscellaneous
yard debris to collect in and around the cabinet. Since most outdoor units
are situated where they're the least visible, it's easy to forget
to clear away the collected debris.

If you don't keep ahead of it though, a buildup of grass clippings,
broken twigs and branches, seed pods and fallen leaves can cause serious
issues including:

A drop in airflow through the condenser coil that slows the heat transfer process.

A corresponding increase in the compressor's workload, which can cause
a breakdown or premature failure.

A decrease in the system's efficiency and an increase in your energy bills.

HOW TO AVOID ANY ADVERSE ISSUES RELATED TO FALLEN LEAVES

If you'd like to avoid the above-mentioned problems and keep your HVAC
system in good operating condition, you should take the following actions:

Buy the unit its own fitted cover.Custom fitted covers keep out all kinds of dirt and debris, but they're
also ventilated so there's less risk of rust forming due to condensation. Your
HVAC pro can tell you what kind of cover is ideal for your cooling equipment brand
and model.

Protect the unit during the winter.Shut down the unit's power supply via the outdoor shutoff switch and the
circuit breaker in your electrical panel. Next, clear away any yard debris both inside
and outside the cabinet, and put on the cover. Remember to remove the
cover next spring and restore power to the unit before the start of the
cooling season.

Add a year-round debris shield.To keep debris from getting inside the unit, invest in a washable screen
filter. This kind of economical filter goes around the cooling fins, and
it's very effective at keeping out debris without causing any airflow issues.

Visit our
Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical website for in-depth information on most HVAC topics, or to learn more
about fallen leaves and your home's HVAC system, just give us a call
at (408) 868-5500.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the South Bay Peninsula and
Santa Cruz areas of California about energy and home comfort issues (specific
to HVAC systems).